Chapter 11: Another Player Enters the Game

Disclaimer: There's only one person who owns Harry Potter and, frankly, I'm not even from her country.

Warning: Expect at least a two to three week wait, because honestly, the inspiration to write new chapters isn't coming as quickly as it used to.

So, hey…wassup?…*chuckles awkwardly and clears throat*, it's been a good two years since my last update and no words can express how sorry I am. Seriously, every email I got about someone favoriting or following this story throughout my unannounced and self-imposed hiatus made me feel more and more like an asshole, so I just want to thank all of you, from the bottom of my heart, for putting up with my bullshit updates. However, I will have to warn you, this is my last year in high school and I am struggling to fight senioritis and finish with honors. So due to my future being on the line, I will try my hardest to put out a chapter 12 this year cause we need to get this crap done but there will be no promises. Again please take the gratitude for your support from this overly stressed asshole and enjoy the story.

-ACCW-

"…All aboard! The Hogwarts Express will be leaving in five minutes!"

A sneer marred fair features as a lean body continuously weaved in and out of the compact and vociferous crowd. Verdant eyes narrowing in on the red and gold emblem imprinted on the crisp black robes as one individual, yelling incoherent sentences to his friends, drifted a little too close for comfort.

"Would you mind shoving off, McLaggen? While you may not favor your eardrums doesn't mean that everyone else in the vicinity shares the same opinion." Hadrian snarled out fiercely as the moron in question once again leaned into his ear, hollering profanities. "People would think that your parents raised you better, a shame that they can't see you now."

Quickly the annoying weight on his arm lifted as said "idiot" spun around indignantly, face puffy and red from the exertion of shouting, the crimson shade only brightening with Hadrian's sharp comment. "Just who the hell do you think you are talking to, Cruor? If you don't want to listen to my conversation, there are other places to go or are you too stupid to see them? By all means, I'll be glad to show you one of them."

Just as beefy hands, intent on affronting the sleeker male, reached out to touch the sleeve of the silk shirt he was wearing, Hadrian swiftly halted the approaching appendages, squeezing a meaty wrist with unmerciful strength. Poisonous green eyes glinted with pleasure at the seeing the pain in the Gryffindor's surprised hazel.

"Now just what were you going to do with this, may I ask?" Hadrian murmured softly, increasing his grip on the wrist as the other male tried to use his remaining hand to loosen the pressure. "You fool, did you really think I would let a someone like you touch me with your filthy hands?"

Chuckling at the weak attempts of freeing the captured arm, he dropped his voice into a silky croon, "Let me tell you something McLaggen, you may be the star chaser for Gryffindor but what would happen to your precious team if I broke your wrist right now, hmm?"

McLaggen gasped as the iron grasp on his arm tightened even more, tears appeared at the corner of his brown eyes as a loud crack came from the chaser's captive appendage. "You bastard! You wouldn't break my wrist!"

"Oh? And why not? Are you really worth the trouble to go through an entire student body for the culprit?" An ebony eyebrow arched as an amused tone entered Hadrian's voice. "Would these teachers, hell even the Headmaster, really go against me for you?"

McLaggen shivered at the cold reptilian smile the Ravenclaw prince graced him with, how the hell did Cruor get into the house for the nerds?! The boy was a cold hearted Slytherin through and through. "Even if they don't believe me, Dumbledore would take the side of one of his Gryffindors, have you ever thought of that Cruor?"

"Ah yes….Dumbledore," Hadrian sneered the name with disgust, shifting his gaze to the side as he observed the numerous wiggling bodies of the first years scrambling to board the train, he continued thoughtfully. "that bumbling fool has never seen through my mask. So why would he start now? What makes you so special that he would be willing to cause turmoil in the school to kick out one of their most promising students in the past fifty years?"

"I…I…." McLaggen couldn't help but stutter at the question as his mind came to a halt, unable to come up with any excuse that would verify his participation and importance at Hogwarts.

Hadrian's grin widened as he saw the witless Gryffindor struggle to come up with evidence of his worthiness to the muggle loving Transfiguration teacher. It was rather pathetic to see such an arrogant and overly confident boy be reduced down to a scared first year with only one poke at his usefulness, but oh was it satisfying to be able to break someone down like this. The malicious smile became chilly as beryl eyes scanned the terrified countenance calculatingly, musing on how to deliver the killing blow.

"It seems that our dear old Gryffindor Golden Boy has finally lost his bravado, no? What a shame, after all, isn't that what your house prides themselves on, their courage and their guts?" Cocking his head in mock curiosity, Hadrian continued to taunt the sweating sixth year, releasing the abnormally bent wrist as he started to circle around the panicking boy. Noting with pleasure as wide orbs followed his move, like an injured deer being confronted by a predator. "Give up McLaggen, there is nothing you can offer him, and there is nothing you can do to convince me of your potential."

Tightening the circle, Hadrian paced leisurely around until he rested behind his prey, leaning down to whisper into the boy's ear his final sentence.

"And there is nothing you can do to stop me…..you are nothing."

Finishing the cruel conclusion with a burst of magic, slender fingers raised to rest against McLaggen's temples, the redness in the boy's face long since faded as a pallid color overtook the slackened features, the light that once shined so brightly and rebelliously in the Gryffindor's eyes, flickering out of existence as Hadrian finally forced his brain to accept his new status of unworthiness.

Taking a long glance at the blank expression that took over the previously rambunctious teenager, the Ravenclaw allowed a satisfied look to settle on his face, turning to leave the student on his knees as the crowd seamlessly flowed around them, not even noticing the figure on the floor.

Magic truly was amazing ability to have.

"Unfortunately our fun has ended, you'll do well to get on the train before it leaves because even if you aren't useful, it doesn't mean that you shouldn't go to Hogwarts. We don't want to get anyone suspicious, hn?" Gracefully striding around the body, Hadrian grabbed a broad shoulder, jerking the unmoving body to its feet and shoving it forward, smiling at the jolt that ran through muscular frame. "Better act natural McLaggen, I have eyes and ears everywhere."

Handing his luggage to an attendant standing ready at one of the train's stairs, the Cruor heir turned and saluted to the broken boy, a sardonic grin gracing his handsome face. "Oh, and, don't bother trying to tell your friends about this little lesson, it's not like they'll be able to remember it, you'll find that you might get a bit…..tongue tied about this day. Don't worry though, it's nothing life threatening. That is, if you keep your mouth shut."

Heading into the the corridor teeming with conversing students, he turned to give one last farewell. "Nice talk McLaggen, hope we can do this again soon."

Cruel laughter followed the slim Ravenclaw as he departed into the locomotive, laughter that would haunt the awakening Gryffindor in his nightmares for the rest of the year.

-ACCW-

"Maybe I was a little too rough on the boy. After all, he will be searched for and questioned if he shows up late and I don't need to give Riddle another opportunity to harass me. It's bad enough already that he won't leave me alone for five minutes without staring holes through my head. What I would give to be able to finally get that leech off of my back once and for all."

Striding down the hallway, Hadrian finally halted in front of a deserted compartment, sliding into the space and sealing the door shut with a lick of his magic, ensuring that no one without his permission could enter. "Perhaps I could charm one of his stalkers to put a little something into his goblet during dinner, it would be rather entertaining to see Hogwart's prodigal Slytherin Prince all flustered for once in his life."

Continuing to contemplate the various scenarios of getting to see the aristocratic face of his rival in shock, a slim hand reached into a black leather bag, withdrawing a nondescript leather journal bookmarked by a feathered quill secured between the well-used pages.

Opening the book to the parted section, slender fingers seized the quill in a firm grip. "Unfortunately Riddle is smart enough not to trust someone around his food. Not very surprising considering the amount of admirers he has seemed to gain ever since he gained power. It truly is disgusting to see how fake so many of these purebloods would act should it benefit them in the future. " He sneered, returning his attention to the white pages covered from border to border with elegant cursive.

September 1st

Today will mark the beginning of my fourth year at Hogwarts and already I had to deal with one of the various insufferable idiots that plague this school with their attendance. I doubt there will be any changes made to Hogwarts, but there seems to be a social tension among the houses; Riddle is finally publicly recruiting outside of Slytherin. Of course, the precious Prince knows better than to impinge upon my own property, but that doesn't lessen the annoyance of having to fight over followers.

Dumbledore is increasingly becoming more and more invested in the lives of the Slytherin house. The man practically had all of the first and second year Gryffindors trail Riddle around the building last semester, and I have no doubt in my mind that he will continue to do so this year. While he is limiting the movements Riddle can make, he is coming closer to my own recruitment and this is something I cannot have. As a respected and, more importantly, influential figure, an accident can't be staged to deter him from interfering in my operations. The man is much too clever to fall for any trick.

Headmaster Dippet is getting older, and perhaps a replacement will be made soon. There's been talk on the horizon that Dumbledore is a potential candidate. With the defeat of the Dark Lord Grindelwald by his wand, there is not doubt that Hogwarts will instate that meddling fool as headmaster. This only adds another exasperating, unpredictable player to the board.

The Wizarding world is a fool for praising that man for a battle no one has witnessed. Even though Dumbledore disarmed and captured the Dark Lord, that bumbling band of buffoons in the Ministry couldn't even imprison any of Grindelwald's closest followers. What good aurors were for being the "protectors of the Wizarding world".

There are news reports in The Prophet about those followers still at large. From what I heard about Grindelwald's inner circle, the Ministry might as well abandon the hunt, no ritual on Earth can find them now. I know they are planning something. Powerful witches and wizards like that don't just take the imprisonment of their leader peacefully.

Only time will tell, and when it does, I know Hogwarts will be the first to be targeted. The time to gather followers is now, it is crucial to prepare for any potential battles that may come.

A knock on the door halted the Hadrian's thoughts, the quill, still dripping with ink, hovered above the manila page. With a wave of his hand, the compartment's entrance flew open, revealing the grinning faces of Cyril and Alastair and the smirking one of Ciaran.

"Merlin Hadrian, do you know how bloody long it took us to find you? What did you do, create a ward around this area?" Alastair huffed, stomping in to slump down onto the empty seat across from the amused Ravenclaw.

"Stop complaining Alastair. I swear that your sensibilities become more and more delicate as the years go by. We've only been searching for ten minutes and you make it sound like it has been ten years." Replied Ciaran, ignoring the rude gesture an indignant Alastair threw him as he sat down besides Hadrian, briefly glancing at the journal still shimmering wetly. "What do you have there Hadrian?"

"It's obviously a journal, Ciaran, or do we need to get your eyes checked? I've read that people should know whether or not they need glasses by this age, but then again, you've always been a late bloomer."

"Thank you for your wise, unnecessary words of wisdom, Cyril. How you aren't at the top of Slytherin House is beyond me."

"That's because Professor Slughorn didn't want the rest of the house to become so intimidated by me that they would lose their ambitions." Smiling at the roll of eyes he received from the Zabini heir, he turned to the smirking individual in front of him. "Besides, what Hadrian is writing is his business. He will share with us what he wants when he feels it is necessary."

"Thank you, Cyril, for that rare bit of insight. You, at least, have the tact to not follow blindly after Riddle like the majority of your house." Hadrian commented.

"Did you hear about the news, Hadrian? Headmaster Dippet is aging rapidly now, and soon we will need to replace him. The probability that our next year will be spent underneath the watchful eyes of Dumbledore is incredibly high." Alastair mused, pulling his Transfiguration book from his black, leather bag. "It would be preposterous that any other wizard or witch would be considered. Can you imagine the bedlam that would happen among the parents if the "most powerful wizard in the world" wasn't the leader of Hogwarts?"

"Yes, I thought that he would become headmaster. Right now, there is no other wizard who is powerful enough to protect the school like Dumbledore." Hadrian responded, setting the journal beside him to dry. "Though it is rather foolish for people to assume that Grindelwald's remaining followers wouldn't attack Hogwarts just because he defeated their leader. These are witches and wizards who were the top of their classes at Durmstrang, they are certainly no slobs in dueling."

"Do you think that they would actually attack Hogwarts?" Ciaran questioned while laying back in the seat and opening a copy of the Daily Prophet. "Just look at the front page, it's completely covered with articles about his Reapers, the whole wizarding world of Britain is looking for them. Will they really be able to lay low until the media gets tired of them?"

"Well they did follow Grindelwald since they were teenagers, Ciaran. That type of dedication doesn't just wane because your leader is locked away in Nurmengard, imprisoning Grindelwald probably strengthened that determination, along with their bloodthirstiness. The Reapers won't rest until they can deliver retribution, and, I'm sure that attacking Hogwarts is the perfect way to draw out Dumbledore to a fight." Cyril reasoned. "But one thing I am certain of is the reaction of Riddle to the news of Dippet being replaced. Maybe we will be able to see the Slytherin Prince finally lose his cool."

"The only time Riddle would ever lose his control is when hell freezes over. Are we sure that Riddle isn't a sociopath? The only emotions he ever expresses is anger, and that's just barely. The man is like an icicle, it's a wonder why he has all those fawning fans."

"Well, Alastair, according to some Hufflepuff girls, when you have a face carved by the gods, it doesn't matter if you have a stick bigger than an ogre's club up your ass." Quoted Hadrian. "On to other matters, though, I have to tell you about a discovery I made over the summer. You remembered how I was interested in Dementors and their origins?"

"Interested?" Alastair snorted. "You were practically obsessed with those creepy dish rags! You spent so many hours in those bookstores during Hogsmeade visits that we almost had to physically drag you out for fresh air."

"I was able to summon one."

"You did? You actually summoned a real, living, well, dead, Dementor? Hadrian, no other wizard in the past thirty years have been able to even muster enough power to fuel the ritual. When did you do this?" Alastair whispered, silve eyes wide in shock and excitement.

"Over Winter break at your house actually, Alastair. When I asked for that extra room, I was going to use it to try the summoning. The old wards surrounding your mansion naturally stabled the connection and prevented any outside interference."

"What?! You summoned a Dementor at my house and didn't let me watch? What kind of friends are we?" The Black heir exclaimed, pouting.

"Probably for that exact reason, Alastair. You would be so annoying that as soon as the Dementor heard your voice, it would turn around." Cyril snarked, dodging the punch that the outraged teenager delivered. "How you get girls is a mystery to me. Listening to you would be enough of a deterrent."

Laughing at the disgruntled expression on his friend's face, Hadrian replace his quill between the, now dry, pages and slipped the journal back into his bag. "We should get into our uniforms now, it shouldn't be long until we reach Hogwarts."

"Of course, Hadrian. You always did have this sixth sense of how far away the school is. Maybe it is because you are so sensitive to magic that it is easier to pick up on Hogwart's signature." Ciaran pondered while retrieving his robes from his trunk. "That is a prospective experiment to test out in the future."

"Speaking of your power. Are you recruiting again this year, Hadrian? I know a couple of Slytherins that aren't in Riddle's pocket that are interested."

"Yes, I am recruiting this year, Cyril. Thank you for the offers, but do not worry, Riddle will find it much harder to lure people to his side, it is time to become serious." Hadrian commented silkily as a devious smirk crossed face. "Let the Slytherin Prince see what hell his "Queen" can rise."

-ACCW-

From their floating point on the Black Lake, ice blue eyes gazed upon the tall, stone arches spiraling into points. They observed the stained glass covering the walls from floor to ceiling, each window depicting some scene from Hogwarts's history.

Resting upon the heavy, wooden double doors at the entrance, a flash of white appeared in the dark as a smile spread across a handsome face. He had finally found the boy, after all this time he found him. Putting his hand into his robes to pull out an item, the man closed his eyes as he raised a clenched fist to his lips.

"Soon, Hadrian. Soon Dumbledore will rue the day he separated us, I promise this." The man whispered into the stillness of the night, opening his hand to let the object clutched in its grasp fall against a clothed chest, the moonlight reflecting off of the silver triangle outlining a circle, with both shapes evenly divided by a vertical line. "It is time for him to pay."

-ACCW-

So Hadrian just mentioned that he summoned a Dementor, I am still debating on whether or not he should tell his friends about Messorem being a Dementor lord. I am sorry for any grammatical errors/spelling mistakes I may have made, I was trying to get this out before February ended. I promise that there will be Hadrian/Tom interaction next chapter, plus, maybe a kissing scene?

Again thank you so much for your support, please feel free to hit up the reviews with any questions, critiques or concerns, I would be glad to read them and answer.

-tandhale